JohnMarcson
Administrator
Thanks for the side by side. That's a great video! They both look good. I think the apollos have more "definition/pop" than I though even compared next to the TIR.
Custom Flat-Top Mini MX (2100/RX2700/Ranger Bar Clone) *Back to just a 36" bar*
- Thread starter TritonBoulder47
- Start date
TritonBoulder47
Member
The Apollo almost acts like a halogen light in this use... You get a bit of a ramp up and down when it sweeps...
Where as the LED3 is like every LED, with more of an "instant" on/off...
Again, both work great in this application. If I were to use a TIR- style LED head, I'd try to find a larger head, like a TIR-4 tyle head just to use a larger size head... With the Apollo, it fills the surface area of the reflector so it doesn't look like a lighthead mounted on a reflector body...
Where as the LED3 is like every LED, with more of an "instant" on/off...
Again, both work great in this application. If I were to use a TIR- style LED head, I'd try to find a larger head, like a TIR-4 tyle head just to use a larger size head... With the Apollo, it fills the surface area of the reflector so it doesn't look like a lighthead mounted on a reflector body...
tsquale
Lifetime VIP Donor
PJD642
New Member
TritonBoulder47
Member
Stacked T-6s would be too wide I think, and possible too tall for the angle thats on the lower lens... If I have some spares I'd test...
Indeed... This all may change again too... And it may or may not make its way on my durango anyway... lol
TritonBoulder47
Member
That was the idea I had for smart sweeps... Get some dual color Apollos then have them run to white would come on for TD/Alley, and Blue for warning...
proudfirefighter
Member
For future consideration, how much would you be looking to sell something like this for..?
TritonBoulder47
Member
It has been a notion in my head to possibly sell it... I'm not 100% set on putting it on my Durango, but I'm also not 100% set on selling it... lol
Phoenix_Rising
Lifetime VIP Donor
how long til you think a rep from the Big 3 (or Feniex for that matter) see this and snag the idea?
EHFD_Tower_751
Member
im probaly gonna regret saying this.............but here goes nuttin.
IF you can find a set of the 2 light arrowstick (I know sparky had a set), then you can put that in the rear, with 2 solaris heads on either side of them.
Would give you rear warning power AND a traffic advisor in one (okay 2). If you're daring (but then again im talkin about you tim lol), you could always try cutting down a 3 light section of the arrowstick, and go that route.
Just a thought........and if u need a set of the 3 light arrowstick, I have 2 extra sets with enough ambers.
IF you can find a set of the 2 light arrowstick (I know sparky had a set), then you can put that in the rear, with 2 solaris heads on either side of them.
Would give you rear warning power AND a traffic advisor in one (okay 2). If you're daring (but then again im talkin about you tim lol), you could always try cutting down a 3 light section of the arrowstick, and go that route.
Just a thought........and if u need a set of the 3 light arrowstick, I have 2 extra sets with enough ambers.
JohnMarcson
Administrator
If you mean the bottom of an MX, too late.....
If you mean moving multifunction LED intersections, smart intersections (while cool) were never very reliable IMHO, there are a lot of failure points. As LEDs get brighter and smaller and the technology to flash them gets better, the concept of mechanically moving them becomes less and less appealing to design, produce and manufacture.
I have been subtlety dropping hints to companies for years that a TCL that can be used like a remote control spotlight would be a hit. Think a go light or visabeam that also can do TCL patterns. The companies that have acknowledged the idea at all don't think it is practically feasible. The number of moving parts and failure points and the engineering and materials they call for isn't supported by the customer base for such a product. This becomes more and more true as LEDs get better and better.
But since we don't care about silly things like profit margins when dreaming up lights, imagine this with me:
A design like these below, but with parts made to withstand the continuous duty of a control head running traffic clearing light patterns. Now give me a USB connection and some software to program my sweep patterns. Shut up and take my money.
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TritonBoulder47
Member
Well... I may be modifying this bar a little more tonight... lol Thinking about making another LED3 sweep and putting 4 sweeps in the bar... lol THe APollo sweeps to the front, and the LED3 sweeps to the rear...
That will make the bar as follows:
Front:
Apollo Sweep - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - Apollo Sweep
Rear:
LED3 Sweep - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - LED3 Sweep
That will make the bar as follows:
Front:
Apollo Sweep - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - Apollo Sweep
Rear:
LED3 Sweep - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - LED3 Sweep
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tsquale
Lifetime VIP Donor
JohnMarcson
Administrator
Can't wait to see this built. It's going to rival major production bars.
TritonBoulder47
Member
TritonBoulder47
Member
No, there isn't much of any room in the bar...
Well, here it is... Dual sweeps, 8 Solaris heads, and a T-1000... lol A combination of Code 3, SOS, Fed Sig and Feniex... lol
Sadly, I didn't have any wire or connectors in my tool box like I usually do... So no video right now... But I may try and rig something up for a demo...
OK, I tried rigging it up just to get a quick video, but my battery pack is on its last leg... So a vid will have to wait for tomorrow... I'll grab my Optima and bring it in, plus some wiring supplies and get this buttoned up... lol
Actually, now that I look at it... I MIGHT be able to squeeze a T-4/T-6 in the space under the Solaris heads, but i don't think i'd be able to use the flanges... That is a viable new project for a later date... lol
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tsquale
Lifetime VIP Donor
I love that you're working on this in the comm center! Looks great as you have it now
SBFD-E-9
Member
Man, that bar is sweet! I wish my Suburban didn't have a sunroof so I could do something similar on it.
Dan
Dan
TritonBoulder47
Member
Of course... Gotta have stuff to do in the down time... lol
My Durango has a sun roof, and this bar may make its way onto it... lol
SBFD-E-9
Member
If I didn't have a Z71 Suburban I'd be okay, but only the rotators are above the roof rack on my mini MX.
Dan
Dan
TritonBoulder47
Member
Well... Got some shitty news... After getting everything all installed and wired up, one of the LED3s is really dim... *sadness* So I'm gonna put the 4 Solaris heads back in, and maybe I'll order a pair of Feniex T-3s and make another go at this in the future...
But I did change the feet over from the Metal MX feet to the Plastic 2100 feet... They are a little shorter and their feet pad angle isn't as great... I think these ones will fit my roof line better, just need some mags...
But I did change the feet over from the Metal MX feet to the Plastic 2100 feet... They are a little shorter and their feet pad angle isn't as great... I think these ones will fit my roof line better, just need some mags...
TritonBoulder47
Member
OK, heres how it sits now...
Front:
Apollo Sweep - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - Apollo Sweep
Rear:
Side Facing Solaris - Solaris - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - Solaris - Side Facing Solaris
And heres a shot of the inside.
Front:
Apollo Sweep - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - Apollo Sweep
Rear:
Side Facing Solaris - Solaris - Solaris - Angled Solaris - Angled Solaris - Solaris - Solaris - Side Facing Solaris
And heres a shot of the inside.
I don't know about all 4, but definitely 2... lol But since i'm broke, that will have to wait a bit... lol
TritonBoulder47
Member
TritonBoulder47
Member
I threw the bar up on my Durango for a quick "Test Fit"... It looks pretty good at night... lol I'll throw it up again when its day light to really see how it looks...
Final details would be moving the mount feet inward to fit between the roof ribs, and getting a set of mags for it... Then its basically done... Would just have to wire it into my 4200 and re-programs the control head...
Heres a quick test of the T-1000, as always the vid doesn't really show the light throw...
Final details would be moving the mount feet inward to fit between the roof ribs, and getting a set of mags for it... Then its basically done... Would just have to wire it into my 4200 and re-programs the control head...
Heres a quick test of the T-1000, as always the vid doesn't really show the light throw...
tsquale
Lifetime VIP Donor
lotsofbars
Member
Whoa! This thing is a BEAST! I love the mix of moving parts that have that eye-catching "pop" next to the solid flashing effectiveness of stationary solaris heads. It's a shame that these don't exist outside your "lab" because they're damn effective.
TritonBoulder47
Member
Well today I threw the bar back on the Durango to see what it looks like in the day, and its not bad at all... lol Its a little "high profile" than I'm used to, but i kinda like it...
(Pardon the road salt/grime/snow pack... lol)
And a quick day video...
(Pardon the road salt/grime/snow pack... lol)
And a quick day video...
rettoded
Member
Glad to see I am not the only one to think of this idea. I have wanted to take an LR11, get it color changed by wilsonbr90, and then put it in a Five-O dashlight. I think that would look awesome.
Along the same lines, I would love to get 2 Whelen PAR46 2 degree spotlights converted to red, and put them in a Unity RV46. I can only imagine the insane brightness that it would be.
This video of just the sweeps reminds me of of 2 halogen lights flashing independently. I too am surprised by how well the Apollos look in the sweeps. The whole bar looks awesome!
7d9_z28
New Member
The assembly sans reflector would fit, would have to cut the reflector down a touch. The intersection sweeps from an excalibur would probably fit without modification.
7d9_z28
New Member
LOL, Yeah I just happen to have a friends Libby I am building sitting on top of my MX so I did some quick measuring. It would be sort of tight but if you are willing to modify the reflector and MAYBE (but I dont think so) a little bit inside the libby frame, You could do something neat! But I think Excalibur sweeps would fit unmodified. I do not have one on hand to measure.
TritonBoulder47
Member
I already answered this, but just incase anyone else was wondering...
1. No, I am NOT running this bar off of a ciggy plug... Although, with a beefy enough plug, it probably can be done... Afterall, Mini Vectors were run off a ciggy plug... lol
2. I've actually always had the idea and wanted to put a set of sweeps into an LFL frame, but I never got around to it... As far as fitment, I don't know, but Alec answered that for you... Excal sweeps might do the trick...
As far as an update, there really isn't one... lol I got some mags ordered for it, so its a possibility that this will be on the Durango by the weekend... And if I like it enough, I might sell my Pegasus... lol
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pdk9
Member
I love it.
i dunno how code 3 never transformed the MX7K into a mainstream LED or a LED/Combo lightbar (ie like the Whelen Delta lor FedSig's upgrades to some of their popular halogen lightbars)...maybe it's because the LED intersection sweeps are such a good idea & C3 lacks creativity, thinking that we won't notice them putting mediocre LED modules in recycled frames & calling it innovative. The MX7K is one of my all time favorites & I love seeing the LED upgrades that members have put into theirs over the years
i dunno how code 3 never transformed the MX7K into a mainstream LED or a LED/Combo lightbar (ie like the Whelen Delta lor FedSig's upgrades to some of their popular halogen lightbars)...maybe it's because the LED intersection sweeps are such a good idea & C3 lacks creativity, thinking that we won't notice them putting mediocre LED modules in recycled frames & calling it innovative. The MX7K is one of my all time favorites & I love seeing the LED upgrades that members have put into theirs over the years
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TritonBoulder47
Member
True that... If I had "Doug Money" (GPC) I'd buy some Whelen L31s and L32s (or even the uber expensive Rota-Beams) and put the guts in the top of an MX and set them to the "rotator" pattern... lol